Berlusconi Underage Sex Conviction Overturned By Italian Court

Former Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi (center) arrives for a court hearing in Naples in June, where he was appearing as a witness in the trial of an associate. Berlusconi's conviction on sex with a minor and abuse of power was overturned by a court in Milan on Friday.

The Milan court unexpectedly threw out last year's verdict against the billionaire politician, who was sentenced to seven years in prison. Prosecutors are expected to appeal the decision to Italy's highest court, the Court of Cassation, with a likely decision sometime next year.

Reuters says: "Berlusconi was accused of paying for sex with former nightclub dancer Charisma El Mahout, better known under her stage name 'Ruby the Heart stealer,' when she was under 18, and of abusing his authority to get her released from police custody over unrelated theft accusations."

The Wall Street Journal adds: "Mr. Berlusconi, who was also banned from public office and ousted from Italy's Senate as a result of the tax fraud conviction, has always denied the charges in the sex case, which dates back to May 2010."